Method of casting chain and the like



L. H. MORIN METHOD OF CASTING CHAIN AND THE LIKE Nov. 28, 1944.

Filed June 27, 1942 INVENTOR' g 400/: 16. Mom

ATTOIRNE the formation of a few links of a chain.

Patented Nov. 28, 1944 METHOD OF CASTING CHAIN AND THE LIKE Louis H. Morin, Bronx, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to Davis Marinsky, Bronx, N. Y.

Application'June 27, 1942, Serial No. 448,816

17 Claims.

This invention relates to the method of forming one casting within another casting to establish an interlock or coupling between two castings. More particularly the invention relates to the method of forming chains with the adjacent links of the chains formed one within the other in producing chains of predetermined lengths,

composed of solid die cast link member or elements. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing", in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic'sectional view taken along the parting line of'a die, and illustrating Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the position of the core in feeding a cast unit into a position preparatory to forming the next successive casting.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line' 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 55 of 1.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line l-1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 1.

a gate or admission passage l3, which opens outwardly through one side of the die so that a nozzle Ill registering with the gate passage will Fig. 9 is a detailed view 'of a few links of a completed chain made according to my invention.

My invention deals generally with the die casting of what might be termed inter-locked or inter-coupled members, regardless of the shape or contours of these members and comparative sizes thereof, and also regardless of the material employed. From the standpoint of material, it will be understoodthat the castings may be formed from any'suitable die casting alloy or plastic in- I be formed of different or contrasting colors by simply moving-nozzles discharging different colored materials into registering position with the gate passage of the dies.

In the construction shown, I and I I represent the two parts of the die, adjacent surfaces or the parting line of which is indicated at l2, note Fig. .3. 0n the parting line of the die is formed facilitate pressure injection of the heated casting material into the cavity or impression l5, formed on the adjacent surfaces or parting line of the die. The .gate 13 communicates with one enlarged chamber and through the impression l5 to a corresponding chamber [1, in which chambers are arranged the forked ends l3 and I9 of a core member 20. It will thus be seen, from a consideration of Figures 3 and 8, that the casting material formedin the chambers l6 and I1 and around the core member I 3, l9 willformsubstantially U-shaped gate portions 2| one of which includes the rod portion 22 formed in the gate opening l3.

The core 20 seats in theelongated recess 23,

formed on adjacent surfaces of the dies l0 and II and the slot 24 of the core which forms the forked ends l3, I9 receives the members 25, 26, 21, 28, 23, and 30 which may be termed'the core portions of the dies which form the openings of' the resulting links 3| of the chain. In other words, the surfaces of the members 25 to 30 inelusive are flush with the other abutting surfaces of the dies and the various sections Figures 3 to 7 inclusive will clearly illustrate this fact.

.Below the surface 30 adjacent surfaces of the dies are recessed as indicated at 32 to provide the clearance for receiving the castings includ- Ting the member 2| while supported in position to receive the next successive cast link unit.

' In the present construction and in order to in creaseproduction of the chain, I form in each unit casting two inter-coupled links and this formed in the die part I'll with a cavity 35 formed in the die part II, the cavity 33 crossing through the recess 24 in the forked member l8, IQ of the core 20. This same crossing takes place at each of the rounded ends of the link. In other words,

. again considering Fig. 7 of the drawing, it will 55, sides 38 and 31 of the next link are arranged on appear that one long side 36 of the link is formed at one side of the core [8, whereas the other long side 31 is formed'on the opposite side of the 6 of the drawing in which figure the comparable inter-coupled ends is illustrated. In other words it shows the upper end of one link unit and the lower end of the adjacent link unit illustrating the core forks I8 and I9 separating these intercoupled ends one from the other.

Where the cross portions 33, forming the rounded ends of the links, are formed in the dies, the surfaces of the dies will have projecting elements 38 which project from the normal surfaces of the dies as is clearly illustrated in Figure 7 and also by the small sectional portions in Figure 1. In this figure the sectional portions are on the die part II but corresponding sectional portions are on the die part l but are covered by the links which are shown in elevation in Figure 1.

In producing chain according to the teachings diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the dies H] and II are moved into firm engagement with each other around the core when in the position shown in Fig. 1. Casting material is then pressure injected into the cavities of the dies after which the dies are separated and the core 20 is moved downwardlythrough any suitable means such for example, as a forked arm 39, engaging a pin 40 on the core. In its downward movement, the core 20 is projected to the position indicated in Fig. 2 whereupon the dies l0 and H are partially closed, the core stripped from the cast unit, then returned to the position shown in Fig. 1, after which the dies are again firmly moved into engagement with each other and the next casting operation is performed. In the above operation, the first casting is suspended from the members 29 of the separated dies, and is also retained in the aligned position illustrated at X in Figure 1, preparatory to the formation of the next casting Y. After the casting Y is .formed, then this casting is moved into the position of the X casting, Figure 1, and this cycle of operation is continued.

As the links or chains feed'out of the castin machine they may be directly or, indirectly passed through a trimming machine which would trim ofi the U-shaped gate portions 2| along the lines ll, note Figure 8 of the drawing, which trimming operation would free the two links of each cast unit, thus producing a resulting chain, note Figure 9, in which all of the links are inter-locked and free for independent movement one upon the other as in conventional chain structures. Wherever desirable or considered necessary, the offset and portions of the links may be shaped by suitable dies or tools to flatten these ends. In accomplishing'this result on plastic materials, it will be desirable to perform this operation while the casting is still warm or to re-heat the casting preparatory to this forming operation. I

In producing most forms castings according to the invention, water cooled dies are employed,

of forming the links so as to provide free removal of the castings from the dies and further in establishing the interlinkage between adjacent castings or cast units.

In referring to the member 20 as a core mem- The illustrations in the accompanying drawing are chosen to disclose a simple adaptation of the invention. -It will be apparent, however, that many more intricate forms of coupled or interlinked castings may be formed. In all instances the coupled or inter-linked portions of the castings will be over-lapped and one die part, for example the supplemental die part, will form a partition subdividing these over-lapped portions. As 7 will appear from the present disclosure, where two castings are simultaneously formed, over-lapped portions of these castings are temporarily united through the medium of the gate portions. The severing of these gate portions frees the castings from each other while retaining their coupled or linked relationship. It will also be apparent that in some instances the two coupled or linked castings may be of entirelydifferent shape and contour. Still further in some instances the two coupled castings or members may be retained in united relationship, for example, where it may be desirable to maintain two adjacent links rigidly coupled to form-whatmight be termed a dual link unit. In some instances the gate portion may be made ornamental for this purpose.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcontour of each casting may be varied to suit I the particular product to be produced and where the product is in the form of a chain, the shape and size of the adjacent links of the chain may be varied, the only limitation being the necessity ent is:

1. The method of forming a series of interconnected die cast links, which comprises supporting material into said cavities with the core member disposed between overlapped portions of said links, then separating the die parts and feedingthe formed castings relatively thereto by said core member, then stripping the core member from said castings with the die parts in partially closed position and returning the core to casting position, and then forming another pair of links with one of the second named pair of links inter-locked with one of the first pair of links.

2. The method of forming a series of interconnected die cast links, which comprises supporting two die parts in firm'engagement upon a core member arranged on the parting line of the die parts, positioning the core member in the die parts in such manner as to form, in conjunction with cavities of said die parts a pair of interlocked links by the pressure injection of heated casting material into said cavities with the core member disposed between overlapped portions of said links, then separating the die parts and feeding the formed castings relatively theretoby said core member, then stripping the core member from said castings with the die parts in partially closed position and returning the core to casting position, then forming another pair of links .with

one of the' second named pair of links inter-locked with one of the first pair of links, uniting each pair of links in a. gate portion, and removing the gate portion to formindependent relatively movable links of each pair.

3. The method of forming inter-engaged and relatively movable castings, which comprises simultaneously forming two casl ings in a mold with parts of each casting inter-linked and separated by a core, employing a common gate communi- V eating with the inter-linked portions of said castings, removing the castings and core from the mold,,-and then separating the core from the castings and removing the gate portions from the castings to form resulting independent, interengaged and relatively movable castings.

4. The method of forming'inter-coupled diecastings, which comprises simultaneously die casting two members having over-lapped and intercoupled portions, by pressure injection of a casting material into a die and around a core disposed between the over-lapped portions of said members, uniting the over-lapped portions in a common gate, removing the cast members and corefrom the die and separating the core from the castings, and then severing the gate to form ing material into a die and around a core disposed between the over-lapped portions of said members uniting the over-lapped-portions in a common' gate, moving the cast members by said-core into a position to receive the next successive casting, stripping the first casting from the core, then forming another casting comprising two intercoupled members, and forming one of th members of the last casting in interwoupledrelation with one member of the first casting- 6. The method of forming inter-coupled die castings, which comprises simultaneously die casting two members having over-lapped and intercoupled portions, by pressure injection of a casting material into a die and around a core disposed between the over-lapped portions of said members, uniting the over-lapped portions in a common gate, moving the cast members by said core into a position to receive the next successive casting, stripping the first casting from the core, then forming another casting comprising two inter-coupled members, forming one of the members of the last casting in inter-coupled relation with one member of the first casting, and then severing the gate portions from the castings to render said inter-coupled members movable relatively to each other. 1

7. The method of simultaneously inter-engaging die castings, which comprisesthe steps of of the die through said gate in forming the castings joined by the gate portion, and then severing the gate portion when removed from the die parts toform independent and inter-coupled castings.

8. The method of simultaneously inter-engaging die castings, which comprises the steps of moving two die parts having adjacent impression surfaces on the parting line thereof toward and from each other and relatively to a supplemental die part arranged on the parting line of the die and movable angularly with respect tothe path of movement of said die parts, utilizing the supplemental die part as a die element forming predetermined surfaces of the resulting castings and as a partition subdividing over-lapped sections of the two castings to be formed, forming a gate in the die parts adjacent the over-lapped sections, pressure injecting heated casting material into the cavities of the die through said gate in forming two castings joined by the gate portion, then separating the die parts, using the supplemental die as means for feeding the first casting into different position between the die parts, separating the casting from said supplemental die, then returning said supplemental die to normal casting position, and again closing the die: parts and forminganother casting with part or the last named casting inter-locked with a portion of the first named casting.

9. The method of forming two cast members having ends coupled for movement relatively to portions of two members in crossed relationship to each other and separated by a partitioning element movable relative to said dies, opening said dies, moving said members and partition element, partially closing said dies, and then removing the partition element from said members.

11. The method of simultaneously forming. two

I over-lapped and inter-coupled cast members,

which comprises the arrangement of a supplemental die part on the parting line of relatively movable dies to partially form the impressions or cavities of the dies forming said members and also providing a partition separating over-lapped portions of said cavities, injecting heated casting material into the dies at the over-lapped portions of said cavities in simultaneously forming two cast members, then removing the members and partition from said dies, separating said members and partition and returning the partition to its original position between said dies for the next casting operation.

12. The method of forming inter-coupled die castings, adapted for relative movement in'relation to each other, employing complementary and separable die parts, which comprises casting overlapped portions of said castings on opposite sides of and in contact with a partition positioned in and separable from said die parts and castings and forming with said die parts impressions adapted to form said inter-coupled castings, separating said dies, moving said castings on said partition member, partly closing said dies, stripping said partition member from said castings and returning said member to its original position between said dies for the next castin operation.

13. The method of forming inter-coupled die castings, adapted for relative movement in rela-.

tion to each other, employing complementary and separable die parts, which comprises casting overlapped portions of said castings on opposite sides of and in contact with a partition positioned in and separable from said die parts and castings -and forming with said die parts impressions 14. The method of forming inter-coupled die castings adapted for relative movement-in relation to each other, employing complementary and separable die parts which comprises casting overlapped portions of said castings on opposite sides of and in contact with a partition positioned in and separable from said die parts and castings and forming with said die parts impressions adapted to form said inter-coupled castings, separating said castings and partitions from said die parts, and then separating said inter-coupled cast- I ings from said partition.

15. The method of producing a chain comprising a series of die cast links intercoupled for free relative movement and employing complementary and separable die parts, which comprises suc-' cessively casting corresponding membersof a pair of links in the same impressions of said die parts and on opposite sides of a partition positioned between and separable from said die parts and links and forming with the die parts impressions 4 adapted to form said inter-coupled links, moving each casting, as formed, from said impressions into a predetermined position between said die.

parts before casting the succeeding pair of links,

' casting a portion of each of said succeeding pairs of links in the sameimpressions of said die parts 1 and on opposite sides of a partition positioned between and separable from said die parts and links and forming with the die parts impressions adapted to form said inter-coupled links, moving each casting, as formed, from said impressions into a predetermined position between said die parts before casting the succeeding pair of links,

casting a portion of each of said succeeding pairs in interlocked and overlapped relation with said formed casting, separating said castings and partition from said die parts, separating the castings from the partition, and casting predetermined links of the resulting chain in one color material and other links of the chain in material of another color.

i 17. The method of producing a. chain comprising a series of die cast links intercoupled for free relative movement and employing complementary and separable die parts, which comprises succes-' sively casting corresponding membersof a pair of links in the same impressions of said die Parts and on opposite sides of a partition positioned between and separable from said die parts and links and forming with the die parts impressions 5 adapted to form said inter-coupled links, moving in interlocked and overlapped relation with said formed casting, separating said castings and partition from said die parts, separating the castings from the partition, and shaping each link of the resulting chain to apredetermined form.

' LOUIS H. MORIN. 

